The 33-year-old had been living and training in Holland and it is believed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Tributes have begun to flow for Bannister, including from fellow Australian track and field star, Sally Pearson.

Athletics Australia confirmed the news soon after reports began to surface.

"Athletics Australia is saddened and shocked to learn of the death of Jarrod Bannister, aged 33," the organisation said in a statement.

Bannister remains the national record holder in javelin with a 89.02m throw he set back in 2008.

He was a gold medallist in javelin at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and represented Australia on the world stage in athletics at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and at the IAAF World Championships in 2011 in South Korea where he made the final.

"On behalf of Athletics Australia, I extend our deepest condolences to Jarrod’s family and friends and urge the athletics fraternity to support each other at this difficult time," Athletics Australia CEO Darren Gocher, said.

In 2013, Bannister was banned for 20 months for failing three whereabouts drug tests.

Bannister maintained drug testers arrived at the hotel where he was staying, but were told he had checked out the previous day.

Bannister was actually in the hotel in a room shared with another Australian athlete - the accommodation had been paid for by Athletics Australia.

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